Pray for political leaders, Pope urges faithful

Christians must pray constantly for their political leaders, Pope Francis told a congregation at daily Mass on September 16.

“Politics, according to the social doctrine of the Church, is one of the highest forms of charity, because it serves the common good,” the Pope said. He rejected the idea that Christians should not become involved in political affairs. “A good Catholic meddles in politics, offering the best of himself,” he said.

However, the Pope added, the best that a Catholic can offer may be his prayerful support for leaders. Even if the leader is following immoral policies, he said, one can pray for his conversion and a change in focus.

The Pope argued that effective political leaders “have to love their people.” He added that “a leader who doesn’t love, cannot govern – at best they can discipline, they can give a little bit of order, but they can’t govern.”

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